Sony Ericsson today started off Mobile World Congress early with a new high-end Walkman phone. Once known as the Hikaru, the W995 stands as the company's flagship non-touch media phone with an 8-megapixel camera, a larger than average 2.6-inch LCD, GPS mapping and Wi-Fi with DLNA support for sharing media on a local network. It also touts built-in stereo speakers, and comes bundled with an 8GB Memory Stick Micro card that holds a typical music library.

The phone will appear in black, red and silver color options and ships sometime during the spring for specific markets. Network support will include both GSM/EDGE and HSPA-based 3G on the 850MHz band, guaranteeing a launch for the W995 on AT&T, Rogers, or both North American carriers.